Talking-machine.



` PATENTED- SEPT. 1'5, 1903. H. E. BOOTH.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAY 19, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Patentedseptem'ber 15, 190B.

PATENT OEEICE.

I'IIRAM E. BOOTH, OF SAL'I LAKE CITY, UTAH.

TALKING-MACHINE.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 738,764, dated September 15, 1903.

Application filed May 19, 1902. Serial No. 107.997. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IIRAM E. BOOTH, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in rIalking-Nlachines, of which the following is a specification.

It is a matter of common knowledge that for some time past stenographers in various offices have been receiving dictation from phonographs, gramophones, and other talking-machines. It is also a fact, more or less generally known, that this practice is rapidly falling into disfavor for the reason thatit has a tendency tomake the ears sore and in some cases to injure the ear-drums and, perhaps, produce deafness for life. This appears to be due to different causes, among which are the violent impacts of the soundvibrations upon the ear-dru ms and the weight of the tubes upon the ears. It is obvious, however, that there are various other things which may combine to produce the irritation and soreness which a large percentage of the stenographers experience in usingthe forkedtube arrangement provided by the companies handling the various talking-machines. But' whatever the explanation may be as to the cause of this` trouble it is a fact, as stated, that sooner or later it compels the stenographerto give up this method of receiving dictation. Now after considerable experimenting I have discovered that this trouble may be effectually remedied in various ways. For example, I find that the tendency to produce soreness of the ears may be considerably lesscned by employing a head-piece which will hold the receiver away from the ear or which will at most cause the receiver to be pressed but slightly against the ear. Again, I find that the character of the sound-vibrations maybe modified by employing a receiver having a resonance-chamber, and that by so doing the tendency ofv the sound-vibrations to produce irritation of the ear-drum is greatly reduced. I also find that this tendency may be still further reduced by employing a receiver having a fibrous material-such as cloth, wadding,or other similar fabric-covering its opening. I also find that varying results may be obtained 'by employing rubber, leather, and other like materials, and it is even possible that metallic diaphragms may be successfully employed for this purpose, as will hereinafter more fully appear. At any rate, with a provision of this character and, as stated, with a head-piece adapted to hold the receiver away from the ear or pressed only slightly against the ear I nd that it is possible for a stenographer to receive dictation in this manner without experiencing any unpleasant results.

Generally stated, it is therefore the object of my invention to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive construction and arrangement whereby dictation may be taken from a talking-machine without injury to the ear or ear-drum.

Itis also an objectl to provide certain details and features of improvement tending to increase the general serviceability and eiliciency of a device of this character, and to these and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a stenographer seated at a typewriter and engaged in'taking dictation from a talking-machine involving the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the receiver and adjustable connection between the same and the head-piece. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, more or less diagrammatic in character, of one constru ction of the receiver, and also illustrating the method of connecting the same with the transmitter or reproducer of a talking-machine. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveof the arch-shaped portion of the head-piece, which is employed for supporting the receiver at the side of the ear. Fig. 5 shows another form of receiver. Fig. 6 shows a receiver with a thicker diaphragm or obstruction.

My invention thus embodied in practical form may comprise the usual rotary record A and also the usual transmitter or reproducer B. It will be understood that these elements can be of any suitable known or approved form. Preferably the said transmitter or reproducer is adapted to be connect- IOO lIO

ed with a flexible tube C, which is preferably of a length to extend from the talkin g-machine to the head of the listener. At the other end of this tube I provide a suitable receiver B. As shown in Fig. 3, this receiver is box-like in form and has a resonance-chamber d. A cap d can be suitably secured to the face of the receiver, and the opening of the cap can be covered or obstructed by a diagram d2. This diaphragm can be of any suitable character. For example, it may consist of superimposed layers of cloth, such as glazed cotton, wadding, or any other fibrous fabric. As previously stated, it may also be of rubber or other like material, and in some cases a single metal diaphragm may be employed with good results. W'ith superimposed layers of fabric or other like fibrous material the thickness of the diaphragm can be varied according to the character of the sound-waves to be acted upon, and in any event and regardless of the material to be employed-that is to say, whether the obstruction in the receiver be of metal, wood, cloth, leather, or other materials-I iind that very good and, as far as I know, the best, results are obtained when the formation and construction are such as to give the diaphragm a more or less nonvibratory and porous character, so that whatever the material it will be advisable to employ it in such quantity as to provide a diaphragm of sufficient thickness and porosity as to insure a practically non-vibratory diaphragm, and any material mentioned may be employed separately or, as is obvious, these materials may beemployed together in alternate layers according` to requirements and as may be found desirable.

In Fig. 5 the receiver has no diaphragm or other obstruction; but the face of the receiver is provided with an opening X, which is relatively small as compared with the opening in the cap d. The box portion or body of the receiver can be made of any suitable material. I find that good results are obtained by employing wood, rubber, paper, or some other non-metallic substance. Now as to the headpiece for supportir g the receiver in position at the side of the ear it is preferable that this part of the structure be of such character that the receiver will stand clear of the ear, or at most only press slightly against the ear. In Fig. l it will be seen that the headpiece is adjusted in such manner that the receiver does not touch the ear. I iind, however, that no unpleasant results are experienced by pressing the receiver gently against the ear. In order that the receiver may balance Well, and in order to avoid the direct impact of the soundwaves upon the eardrum, I find that it is preferable to connect the bottom or lower side of the receiver with the tube C. In other words, the lateral admission of sound-vibrations to the receiver appears to give better results than can be obtained byattaching the tube to the back of the transmitter. The said head-piece can be of any suitable form or construction. For example, it may comprise an arched springlike portion having one end bent slightly outward and provided with a slotted casting E. With this arrangement the receiver can be pivoted at its sides upon the hangers F, and the latter can be provided with slots adapted to receive the bolt G. This bolt, it will be observed, extends through the slots or openings in the casing E and is preferably provided with a butterfly-nut g. Vith this arrangement the hangers F can be adjusted up and down, so as to bring the receiver into proper position, and the butterfly-nut g can .then be screwed down to clamp the hangers tightly in place. Thus adjustably mounted upon the head-piece the receiver can be adjusted so as to assume the desired position at the side of the head. It can be swung toward or away from the ear, as the character of the work may require and in accordance with any preference on the part of the listener. Y

"With the foregoing arrangement the soundvibrations are transmitted by the reproducer B and are carried through the tube to the chamber in the receiver. At this point the sound-vibrations are relieved of their harshness and are modified or changed in a way to make them extremely agreeable to the listener. The scraping sounds do not appear to be in evidence and no vibrations are transmitted directly through the different materials to the drum of the ear. No weight is thrown upon the ears, and consequently no soreness results from the continual use of the talking-machine. VVith the ordinary arrangement the sound-vibrations are conducted through a tube and allowed to escape through the tips which are inserted in the ears. These tips have small openings, which seem to force the sound with more or less shock or irritation directly against the ear-drums. lVith my construction and arrangement, however, this trouble is obviated, and the sound-waves are conducted to the listeners ear without harshness or violence and in a way to produce no irritation or injury of the ear-drum.

I claim as my inventionl. A talking-machine, comprising suitable means for propagating the sound-waves, a minutely -porous and non Vibratory diaphragm arranged to be held close to the ear, and a resonance-chamber located immediately back of said diaphragm and adapted to receive the sound-wav es from said propagating means.

2. A talking-machine, comprising suitable reproducing mechanism for propagating the sound-waves, a receiving instrument provided with a porous and non-vibratory diaphragm adapted to be held close to the ear, said receiving instrument having also a reso- IOO IIO

nance chamber located back of said diaphragm, and suitable tubing for connecting said resonance-chamber with said reproducing mechanism. i

3. The combination of a rotary record, a transmitter associated with said record, a boxlike receiving instrument having a resonancechamber and a non vibratory diaphragm adapted to be held to the ear, and a iiexible tube connecting said resonance-chamber with said transmitter.

4. A talking-machine, comprising a rotary record, a transmitter associated with said record, a receiving instrument provided with a resonance-chamber and a diaphragm adapted to be held to the ear, a flexible tube connecting said resonance-chamber with said transmitter, and a head-piece adapted to hold the said receiving instrument away from the ear.

5. A talking-machine, comprising a suitable record, a transmitter associated with said record, a head-piece, a receiving instrument adjustably mounted upon said headpiece and thereby adapted to either stand clear of the ear or to press slightly against the ear, said receiving instrument being constructed with a resonance chamber having its outlet closed by a porous and non-vibratory diaphragm, and a flexible tube connecting said transmitter with said resonancechamber.

6. A talking-machine, comprising a suitable transmitting instrum ent for propagating the sound waves, a receiving instrument adapted to be held to the ear, said receiving instrument being` constructed with a resonance-chamber having its outlet covered by a porous and non-vibratory sound-modifying diaphragm, such as cloth or the like, and suitable connection between said resonancechamber and said reproducing mechanism.

7. A talking-machine, comprising suitable reproducing mechanism, a receiving instrument provided with a resonance-chamber and a iibrous non-resonating diaphragm adapted to be held close to the ear, said diaphragm having a multitude of minute openings, a flexible tube leading from said reproducing mechanism and having alateral point of connection with said resonance-chamber, and a head-piece adapted to support said receiving instrument and prevent the latter' from pressing against the ear.

S. A talking-machine comprising a rotary record, a transmitter or reproducer associated with said record, a receiving instrument adapted to be held to the ear Aand provided with a resonance-chamber, a tube connecting the said chamber with said transmitter or reproducer, and a diaphragm closing the outlet from said resonance-chamber.

9. A talking-machine, comprising a suitable device for propagating soundwaves, a resonance-chamber adapted to be held to the ear, a tube connecting said chamber with said device, and a porous sound-modifying diaphragm covering the outlet of said resonance-chamber.

10. Atalking-machine, comprising suitable means for propagating the sound -waves, a reschance-chamber connected with said means and adapted to be held to the ear, and a nonapertured and non-resonant but finely-porous diaphragm closing the outlet of said chamber.

11. A talking-machine, comprising means for propagating sound-waves, a non-resonant sound-modifying diaphragm adapted to be held close to the ear, and a tube through which the sound-waves pass from said means to said diaphragm.

12. In a talking-machine, the combination of suitable reproducing mechanism, a receiving instrument provided with a non-resonant diaphragm and a resonance-chamber adapted to be held close to the ear, and a flexible tube leading from said reproducing mechanism and having a lateral point of connection with said resonance-chamber.

13. A talking-machine, comprising suitable reproducing mechanism, a receiving instrument provided with a resonance chamber adapted to be held close to the ear, a headpiece adapted to hold said instrument away from the ear, and a tube leading from said reproducing mechanism and having a bottom point of connection with said chamber.

14. The combination of means for propagating sound-waves, a receiving instrument connected with said means, a head-piece upon which said instrument is mounted, and means including a screw whereby said instrument may be adjusted toward and away from the ear.

.15. The combination of a record, a transmitter, a receiver, a iieXible tube connecting the transmitter with the receiver, a head-piece for supporting the receiver, and means Whereby said receiver can be adjusted upon said head-piece and moved toward and away from the ear.

16. A talking-machine, comprising a suitable transmitting instrument for propagating sound-waves, a structure providing an outlet through which said sound-waves pass, and a fibrous and porous member arranged to be held close to the ear, said member' closing the outlet of said passage and thereby intercepting and changing the character of said soundwaves before the latter reach the ear.

17. A talking-machine, comprising a suitable record, a transmitting instrument associated with the said record, a box-like receiving instrument adapted to be held to the ear, a porous and non-resonant member closing the outlet of said instrument, and a flexible tube leading from said reproducing'mechanism and having a lateral point of connection with said receiving instrument.-

18. In a talking-machine, the combinationof a suitable record, a transmitting instru- ICC IIO y ment associated With said record, a receiving mitting instrument before such Waves are a1- instrument connected by a suitable passage iowed to reach the ear of the listener. 'o with said transmitting instrument, and a Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, I11ibrous and porous obstruction adapted to l nois, this Sth day of May, 1902. completely close the outlet of said receiving instrument7 said obstruction being thereby adapted to intercept and alter the character of the sound-Waves propagated by said trans- HIRAM E. BOOTH. Vitnesses:

MARSHALL D. WILBER, HARRY P. BAUMGARTNER. 

